Types of Hair Brushes: Which Brush Is Right For You?

With so many types of hair brushes available, it can be hard to know which to use. Here, explore 11 hair brush types, plus our recommendations for your hair type.

Do Different Hair Brushes Make a Difference?

The hair brush you use can make a significant difference in your style and how healthy your hair looks and feels. Different brushes are designed with different functions in mind. There are quite a few types of hair brushes, each with various features that can make certain types better suited to some hair types than others. Details like your hair brush’s unique shape (think round brush or a vented brush) and grip can affect the level of control you have over your style, especially if you plan to add heat. A soft bristle hair brush made of boar bristles has a different level of performance and intensity compared to one made of nylon or hard plastic. Even the shape of the rows within your brush can affect the outcome of your look. Brushes with straight rows, for example, are a good option if you're hoping to smooth out your strands, while more curved row patterns can help create volume. Every feature of a hair brush factors into how it will ultimately perform with your specific hair texture and length.

11 Types of Hair Brushes

Before you can determine which brush is best for your hair or how many brushes you’re gonna need to add to cart, let’s peruse the big, bold, beautiful array of hair brush choices. Each of these types of hair brushes serve a different purpose, but finding the best hair brush among them depends entirely on your natural hair texture and the hairstyles you love to create.

1. Round brush

If high-volume heat styling is your thing, then having a round brush in your lineup is mandatory. A round brush adds volume and bounce to your strands and helps deliver professional-quality blowouts. A larger barrel diameter will result in a smoother, sleeker hair with dramatic volume while a smaller barrel gives tighter curls.

2. Boar bristle brush

Boar bristle hair brushes are a hair industry classic. Though they’re typically made with boar’s hair (hence the name), vegan options are available as well. The beauty of a boar bristle brush is that it’s gentle on the scalp and promotes the distribution of natural hair oils as you brush your hair from the root to the tip.

3. Paddle brush

Crafted to easily glide through your hair, a paddle brush features a flat, rectangular shape and can have a wide variety of bristles. Paddle brushes de-frizz pin-straight hair and can stand up to the rigors of thick, curly locks, making them quite versatile.

4. Edge brush

Nothing gets to work on tiny, face-framing strands quite like a dual-sided edge brush. With both a mini comb and wee little bristle brush on a single end, the edge brush is made for tackling edge control, especially for wavy, coiled, or textured “baby” hair.

5. Detangling brush

Hair breakage often occurs when your hair is wet. This is when your hair is most vulnerable, according to the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD), so if you’re prone to working through your kinks with whatever tool you can find…think again. Keeping a brush specifically designed to detangle wet strands without causing damage on hand is always a good idea.

6. Vented brush

If you want to speed up your dry time during a blowout, make sure you have a vented brush. Available in a variety of shapes but often made out of plastic, all vented brushes have one thing in common: open slots in the back that allow air to easily pass through your hair as you apply hot or cold air from a blow dryer.

7. Soft bristle brush

Thinning or extra-fine hair can be tough to manage if you don’t have the right tools. A soft bristle brush will provide all of the benefits of a bristle brush—including oil distribution throughout your hair and smoothing capabilities—while still being gentle enough to glide through fine hair without breakage.

8. Round boar bristle brush

Need control over freshly chopped bangs or grown-out fringe? Create some much-needed tension as you style with a round boar bristle brush to tame short, errant strands.

9. Teasing brush

Even the most extensive beauty supply collections might not include a teasing brush. But this pro-approved tool will become a hairstyling MVP if your fine hair is in need of more volume and drama.

10. Cushion brush

You may recognize this hair brush type for its unique, pillowy base with scattered plastic bristles. Its trademark soft cushion lets stiff bristles contour to your head for comfort.

11. Curved brush

Part vented brush, part detangling brush, this sparse design is all about sweeping larger sections of hair through fine bristles for blow drying and styling ease.

What Type of Hair Brush Is Right for Your Hair?

Knowing about the assorted hair brush styles is half the battle. When it comes to choosing the right hair brush, identifying your specific hair type and texture is essential. A hair brush made for fine hair might wreak havoc on thick curls.